Babies Born April 16th-30th 2009 #1

Sarah, I haven't had enough trouble to be much good with bf advice, but I did find early on with Byron that he didn't always open up wide enough. Like mama said, rubbing the nipple on his chin or on his nose would usually work. I also made sure I had hold of my breast with the whole areola area squeezed out in front of my hand so it could be shoved quickly and easily into his mouth. They aren't always good at getting the nipple far enough back when they are little. I have found that they get much better as their mouths grow.

Mama... that was really lucky about your move! Has anyone moved into your old house yet? Have to feel for them a bit.
I managed to get all the clothes done Thursday, but the pile is huge again now. The nappies have been on the line for 3 days now. I am down to about 10 clean ones so hopefully they get dry this morning or the boys will be in disposibles for a day or 2 I think I am going to buy a dryer for these occasions. We have managed without one for all these years but I think the second child is going to make it just that bit too hard.
The massage was lovely. If you aren't bothered by a stranger rubbing you then you should try it. I know a couple of people who don't like it because it is a stranger touching them. I like to get a massage and facial together when I am getting spoiled. Can't really get a facial at the moment thou cause my eye won't close. DH almost always gets me some sort of beauty therapy voucher for birthdays, xmas etc. Not very inventive but very much appreciated! :lol:

Ozzie, it would be great to join in one of your meetups. When I am a working mum I work at Pine Rivers High so I know the area around there pretty well.
I have to drive over sometime this week to pick up my hug-a-bub. I had to get one ordered in because I didn't want to pay for the pocket. :p

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OMG Nell... never thought of asking DH to do that. What a fantastic idea! I'm going to ask him to do it cos it'd be sooooo interesting to see what you don't see when it's about you.

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Oh yeah, it was hilarious. I found out things I didn't remember saying and the very interesting noises I was making. He kind of did a funny version with serious bits in between, but it really was lovely to have his point of view. I wrote my version to our DD so DH did the same. Here are a few snippets from DH's version of DD's birth nearly 2 yrs ago. Just for a bit of a laugh. :lol:

....we headed into the birthing room (when I first saw this room I thought it was where you get ready to give birth ? I was a little shocked to find out that the gym mats, trapeze, toilet, bathtub, stools, balls and lounges was where the grand final was played)......Mum was really starting to get her vocal chords in tune with the local wild cats, Tasmanian devils and rutting moose. One day you will understand this!.....

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I don't know if I mentioned my Bell's Palsy in this group yet... but it will be 4 weeks tomorrow since I woke up with a paralysed face. Hopefully it won't be much longer! All my blood tests are normal again too, so I am feeling good.

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Wow, Melanie - I didn't realise. Do the dr's know what caused it? And so soon after giving birth. Hope it improves and you are back to your old self sooner rather than later.

SareBear, I used a nipple shield with my first until she was about 6 months old because at first her mouth was too small then once it was big enough she just never wanted to attach properly. Even though they are not recommended for extended use, it didn't seem to affect her, she put on weight normally and I b'fed her until she was 14 months.
With my new little one it actually hurt more to use a nipple shield so for the first two weeks I mostly expressed and fed her expressed milk until engorgement dissapeared and now she latches on well and I only get pain on one side for about the first minute (it feels like she has teeth). Like others said, touching your nipple below their mouth usually gets them to open up wide. If you are having trouble getting your nipple to shape, then you could express for a few minutes (save the little bits of milk to give you a night off in the future) which will bring nipple out, I found this makes attachment easier even now if little one has had an extra long sleep and I end up engorged again.

Good luck.

Sarah, I still have probs with Elijah opening up wide enough, he prefers the "slurp" method if he can get away with it lol.

Wow Mama... that would suck if you were the new person for sure!

Melanie, if I'd known you were after a HAB would've sold you mine from Oskar... hardly used!! Oh well, I will get around to selling it one day lol. Let me know when you are coming over this way and we'll see what we can arrange. Usually Oskar sleeps from around 2-4pm so I generally do things in the mornings... around 10ish cos I can't seem to organise myself any earlier with the two of them! I'll pm you my mobile number.

Nell, pmsl @ your hubby's version. Very funny.

ooooooh hungry bub AGAIN... better go for now.

Gee wizz Cass, always the way isn't it. I didn't really know I wanted one until I stopped at Bubs and Grubs and they were selling them for less than I had seen them on the net. You should put yours on ebay, I had a look on there ages ago when I was first looking into carriers and they were getting almost as much as they cost new.
I never get going before about 10 either. Not unless I have to for some reason. I am awake by around 6 but then I am just lazy and disorganised. I don't know how women go back to work when their kids are this young. I couldn't do it even if I wanted to.

Nell, It must have been very amusing to listen to you during labour. :lol: Everyone kept commenting on how quiet I was... I just shut my eyes and took deep breaths. The middie nick named me the quiet achiever. :lol:
Apparently any stress or trauma can trigger Bell's Palsy, so possibly child birth. I was a bit more stressed though because the preeclampsia showed up after the birth, so my bp was up and my bloods were dodgy. Didn't make for a relaxing first postpartum week. It seems it isn't nearly as uncommon as I originally thought, since I got it I have met a number of people who have had it in the past. Shouldn't be too much longer before I am 'normal' again. :D

Just want to tell you all that we DTD. :tmi: It took a couple of glasses of bubbly to relax me enough to stop worrying about my repairwork :lol: but it hardly hurt at all. It is such a relief to have the first time out of the way!
Byron woke up right in the middle though. :doh: Luckily he always slams his bedroom door as he comes out so DH threw on a robe and put a video on to distract him for a while. Children have terrible timing! I hope we haven't scarred him for life. :lol:

Hi everyone - sorry i've not been around - i've just read the last page of posts so sorry there aren't many personals.

hope that you're all going fab :)

sarebear; I use the nipple shield non-stop. DS didn't learn to attach correctly (me either - as didn't see lactation consultant in hosp til last day) so by day 4 my nipples were bleeding. He's still not great at attaching, he'll stay on for a minute or two but then pull off and gets frustrated so on with the shield again. he's been putting on about 300 gm a week though so I figure it's ok to keep going with the shield until we can get the bf thing down pat.

nellnell; that is so funny about your DH's birth story. what a GREAT idea to save them for your children when they are older. kids love hearing that stuff. I know i did from my mum.

Berrme; is bells palsy the same as cerabal palsy? (sorry if i've asked you before). hope that you're back to 'normal' soon. I agree with the carrier comment. Lachlan wants to be close all the time which is lovely but need to do things so i'm in the market also - but ebay is just as exxy as new. so now i'll go buy from shop. :clap: to DTD. DP and i had a HUGE fight last night over that as he keeps saying things to insinuate 'hurry up'... i think he's being insensitive. I told him i'll do equivalent to him what happened to me and see how much he wants 'it'. I'm not sore much anymore but i need a bit more time.

Well, i think lachlan has colic. every night from maybe 7 until 11.30 sometimes later he's very fussy and crying almost non-stop. wants holding upright, patting. offer boob - don't want, won't sleep. it's v distressing. he's on colic relief by brauer whch workd to start with but very restless again last night. does anyone have any tips? I've also heard of 'wonder weeks' which scare the Sh@t outta me to be honest :lol:

besides that lachlan is wonderful and i'm getting used to being a mum. it's tiring and emotional but worth every second.

x

Hi Mustang, I was wondering if you would join us in here. Good to know you are doing ok.
Palsy just means partial paralysis, so no it isn't the same. It is just the result of pressure on one of the cranial nerves and was identified by some guy named Bell. It is temporary. Cerebal Palsy is caused by permanent brain damage in utero or during the first year of life. The word Palsy freaked my mum out... it sounds really bad.
Did you have bad tearing? Sorry can't remember. My DH was putting pressure on me too, and when I would tell him to back off he would say that he just wanted to make out... whatever. :rolleyes: I don't think they quite understand that we want to but don't want to at the same time. When you are ready make sure you have plenty of time, lube and foreplay. :lol:
Maybe you should buy Ozzie's HAB. They are only smallish so postage wouldn't be much.

I am over the rain now! I got some washing done but the pile just keeps growing. I just need the sun to stay out for 1 whole day.:pray:

hi berrme. LOL to DH wanting to makeout . i've been nice to DP ;) but i think they just dont get it! possibly they can't.

oh that's good it's not cerebal palsy. still v annoying i'm sure.

i had a forceps delivery but only 4 stitches and 2 'slight' grazes. i thought there was nothing slight about it for the first week LOL :lol: it could have been worse though i know. i was VERY bruised. let's just say i'm a natural blonde with fair skin and it looked like i was african american!

thanks for all tips! We couldn't get in to the bf clinic for two weeks so I called a private lactation consultant who came and helped us yesterday. She was wonderful. Now I just need the cracks to heal...

We've had my mum and also MIL and FIL visiting from interstate for the last few weeks, my mum has been doing everything, cooking, cleaning, shopping, the works! They all left yesterday and DH went back to work this week so this is our first day on our own. Even though they weren't staying here they were still here everyday visiting so it will be good to have time just Ollie and I. It's lunch time and I'm still in my pyjamas though! I'll miss the help that's for sure.

It has been very quiet in here!

Sarah, great to hear that you have the BFing sorted out now. I hope your nipples don't take too long too heal, our sensitive areas generally heal quickly as they have so much blood flow.
It is tough when all your help leaves.It is also nice to just enjoy being a mum without anyone watching. I am sure you are doing wonderfully. Forget real clothes unless you actually have to go somewhere. There are people everywhere dreaming of being able to hang out in their pjs all day! :lol:

Edward and I just had our 6 week checks. Edward is 5.4 kg, that is 2kg since we left hospital. What a lump!
I am nicely healed. Apparently my tearing has 'come together very nicely'. I do have a granuloma on some of the scarring though, so he put some silver nitrate on to get rid of it. Apparently it is quite common and not a problem except that they tend to bleed during sex. Otherwise everything is fine. Nice to hear for once!

hello again all!

yup VERY quiet in here last few days - must mean we're all getting sleep? :lol:

Lachlan is 5 weeks 1 day and apparently experiencing 'wonder week' according to my mothers group... JOY. he is getting lots more smiley - which i LOVE. not sleeping much during the day which is annoying. he will sleep being held against me but once i puthim down *bling* eyes wide open. lil rascal! ggrrr! mummy wants a rest too please! :wall:

bought a carrier today by Tomy but he screamed when i put him in it. not sure if just cranky or what. will try again soon - then ican at least do things around house.

berrme good to hear all is well. wht is a granuloma?

Mustang; a granuloma is just a patch where the scar heals all bumpy at the surface, like polyps, and has lots of blood vessels near the surface, which is why it tends to bleed. The ob assured me it was no big deal, just best to get rid of it now as it can take a while to go away itself, and you don't really want to bleed every time you DTD. :lol:
Isn't it nice when your bub starts doing something other than just lie there and look cute! I love smiles. :heartbeat:
Edward doesn't like to sleep much during the day either. I find that if I swaddle him and make his room really dark then he has a big afternoon sleep, but the rest of the time it is short naps either on me or in his vibrating chair. You can also try feeding him lying down in bed so you bothe fall asleep like that. I do that when Byron is asleep too and I really need a nap. :asleep:

Sarah, good to hear :) Oooh pj days are good days ;) lol.

What's the "wonder week" Sacha? In regards to sleeping during the day, Elijah tends to mostly catnap. Oskar did the same thing. It was annoying until I thought well at least he sleeps quite well at night which I'd prefer. Having said that, it would be nice to have a nap though..lol. Oh and same as Melanie said with the swaddling. I find that if Elijah is getting over tired then he LOVES being wrapped. He's like that at night before his last feed. Wrap, feed, sleep :)

Melanie, GO EDWARD with the weight!! WTG. Elijah is a little porker..lol. We are skipping the 6 wk checkup and just going at 8 wks when he gets his needle :( boohoo I hate that bit. My doc said most people do that if they've already had kids..lol. I just figured unless I need to I don't want to go to the docs with sickness around more now.

Oh and I'm starting to feel a little paranoid about the whole swine flu now. Who's brilliant idea is it to divert the P & O ship to Brissy to disembark now??? OMG. I told Joshua the other day to make sure he washes his hands when he gets home and more often during the day, he goes YEAH, but I can tell you it won't happen so that adds to my paranoia. Joshua is being painful, got a letter from the bus co who does the school run and he's been suspended off them for 10 SCHOOL WEEKS!! That's from June 1 til August 26 for bad behaviour. Actually it was DANGEROUS behaviour. So, I think he's not gonna make it to his 16th birthday! I haven't decided whether to say much about it or just ask him if he's going to walk or ride his bike to school instead. I'm thinking if I tell him off then he's getting attention - is that why he did it?? Who knows!

Oh dear Cass, Joshua must have done something pretty bad, school kids are terds on the buses all the time. I would suggest avoiding the fight, you are probably just wasting your breath.
I am with you re the P & O. I say leave them offshore until the flu has run its course. If this flu is so damb horrible then I don't know why we are messing around. Unless of course... it isn't really that bad after all. I am only concerned because I have a newborn. DH catches the train to and from work so I guess he is our biggest threat. :lol:
I haven't been to any nurse checks or anything with Edward. I hadn't really thought about skipping the paediatrician appointment, it would save some money though. Byron was always fine with his shots so I was never worried about taking him. Hopefully Edward will be the same! :pray:
My HAB took longer to come in than expected so I haven't been to get it yet. I was thinking of doing that and a couple of other things while DH can look after the kids tomorrow morning. I am happy to drive out that way anytime though, I used to do it 5 days a week after all. Will give you a call early next week, unless you want to stay home because of the flu. :lol:

Both my boys are asleep, I don't know what to do with myself. :lol: I guess I should do some chores. :doh:

Melanie, let's just say he was being an idiot! Re: the whole flu thing, I'm only concerned mainly cos of Elijah too. I seriously don't want him getting something like that. Oh and now instead of just letting the Qld people off they're apparently letting ALL of them off. Now, they say they're trusting people to go into voluntary home quarantine.... right so they police this how?? GRRRR. Let me know when you're coming this way. We have playgroup on Thurs mornings, other than that we just play it by ear on what we do or don't do.

Oh and I meant to say before too Melanie, forget the housework if they're both sleeping... put YOUR feet up and take a breather for yourself!!!

Couldn't agree more re P & O cruise being allowed to get off. Im seriously worried bout Lachlan being exposed to it. I'm trying very hard to NOT be alarmist but even if we go to shps i have no idea where those ppl have been (LOL) ... or who been in contact with. i'm not worried too much bout me or DP but he doesn't have an immune system like us. *fingers crossed* we all lucky enough to avoid the outbreak - or even better - that it's a total fizzer and nowhere near as bad as they fear.

Ozzie - a wonder week is a week of important development for the baby, if you google it you'll get heaps of stuff bout it. there are several during 'babyhood' and toddlers ... it makes them grizzly and hard to settled, feed etc etc. i think it's called wonder week cos i wonder how we get through it. thank god i bought a HAB ... he can be close at all times like he wants and i can do stuff round the house. :) it's my fave thing ever.

ozzie - also sorry to hear your son being a raggamuffin ... it's the age isn't it? my step kids are great but ... omg have to tell them the rules every fortnight we have them again and again. DP 'forgot' this morn that we don't allow them to have softdrinks before lunch and the youngest got one of those horrid energy drinks (he's obsessed with them) and i cracked it. told DP they're 'his sons' do as you wish but Lachlan will be brought up diff.

Lach actually properly BF this morn. without shield. so happy. but bet he won't again. may be a fluke. prob considering it's WW (wonder week).

x to all. he cracking it. gtg.

Hi everyone,
Just a quick update been very busy lately haven't had time to do anything. Finally got Oliver weighed and he is 4.9 kg, putting on average 180 per week so were very happy with that. Still bf but have been giving a bottle after dinner feed to top him up. I find i don't have as much milk around this time?? We went to a wedding yesterday/last night and he was an absolute angel. Didn't hear a peep out of him the whole time, it was so nice to get out of the house and have a good time. Oliver has also i think started sleeping through. The last 3 nights he has slept from 8.30pm to 4am. Not sure if its a phase or anything. The first 2 nights i freaked out and was checking on him every hour then woke him up for a feed just in case.:doh:
The last week i have found it so hard with juggling both the kids and housework ect, and had the guilts so bad about spending all my time with Oliver and looking at poor Sam and thinking i haven't had 10 mins since Oliver was born just to sit and cuddle him. Sounds bad hey. So today i made Dh have Oliver and i went and jumped on tramp with Sam and read stories and things and so now i feel like we've reconnected and it was so overdue..
Not sure but i think Oliver may have thrush in his mouth. I haven't got breast pain or anything but when he was crying today i noticed white stuff on the insides of his cheeks but not on his tongue?
I bought a Bubba Moe sling to wear because Oliver likes to be held all day, and guess what he doesn't like it. :rolleyes: so i was going to take it back and swap it for a Hug a bub or peanut shell one. I find the pocket bit is really deep and he sort of gets lost in it.
Berrme- What sort of nappies do you have your boys in? I have a Itti bitti d'lish that i love and a bum g but haven't fully made the commitment yet. I think Oliver is quite a heavy wetter because i find when i have him in a cloth nappy i need to change it 10 minutes later.
Can't believe my little one is 1 month old already! Its crazy how fast the first weeks go..

Ozzie; I didn't do anything too strenuous... just went through my draws and put stuff in bags to go in the charity bin. Noone will ever accuse me of doing too much housework. :lol:

Mama2two; I am an old school towelling square user so not much use to you as far as choosing a MCN. I have been considering getting some sort of fancy thing for night time so I don't need to get disposibles anymore. You need something really absorbent once they sleep through.
Yay to Oliver sleeping through. :dance: Edward has done that pretty much since we came home from hospital, but the last 2 night he went over 9 hours! It is pretty scary, even now I have to stop myself getting up to check that he is ok... it just disturbs him. Byron started sleeping through around 10 weeks and kept it up until he started getting teeth around 5 1/2 months, and once the teeth were there he would sleep again, so there is hope for us that they will keep it up.
It is Byron that is stopping me from getting a really good nights sleep. He has been waking up around 3.30 and coming into our bed most nights. I think it just an attempt to get some time with us on his own so I don't want to get cranky but he does so much wriggling that he is virtually impossible to sleep with. I try to have cuddles and nice playtime with him whenever Edward has a sleep but maybe I need to try a bit harder. I completely understand where you are coming from with Sam!
I got a Hug a bub last week and so far I am really liking it. It is a bit fiddly to put on but I am sure I will get better/ faster at it. Edward likes it and feels really secure. I hung out a couple of loads of washing with him on (no washing trolley so lots of bending) and he slept the whole time. He hardly moved.

Mustang; I hope lachlan keeps feeding properly for you! I haven't ever noticed that they get really grizzly in wonder week, just super hungry.
I hate those energy drinks too! I have never been driven to rty one myself but it bugs the hell out of me when all the kids at school walk through the gates in the morning drinking them. As if they aren't hyper enough!

Both my boys are up now so better go sort breakfast out for the big one. :D

Sorry I've been MIA but you guys know how things are!

I have been popping on and reading posts every now and then, but usually when I'm b/f and it frustrates me trying to type with one hand.

Things are going okay here. Master K tends to be grizzly between 3pm and 8pm at night which makes dealing with crazy time a little nightmarish with DD. He must be going through a growth spurt atm as he has generally been feeding every 2-2.5 hours, day and night. Last night he did 4hrs then 3 and another 3 which was great.

Ive been grumpy and not getting enough sleep. DD goes to bed at about 12.30/1pm and Master K has been waking around then for a feed. By the time he's fed, had a play and settled again, DD is due to wake up. I'm certainly surviving on a lot less sleep than I did first time around. I cant hold a decent conversation though.

must go, crying baby

Yay i got a hug a bub today and Oliver loves it. It is a bit fiddly but i watched the dvd about 5 times ;) and think i have it sorted now.. Rain again today so i took Samuel to Hippo house at morayfeild so he ran a muck for 2 hours and i just sat in the corner and read a mag and fed Oliver then we had some lunch. It was good not to be stuck in the house holding the baby with a bored 3 year old.
Berrme- Your so lucky your boys are good sleepers, my first was a nightmare. Like Byron, Sam has been getting in with us round that time too. Not sure if he's cold or something or just wants a cuddle. I don't mind. Oliver woke at 12.30am last night for a quick feed but that was it.
Were nearly due for the 6 week check up at the doctors. Can anyone tell me what to expect with that? I didn't go to my one with Sam. :shhh:
Bed early for me tonight could hardly keep my eyes open during masterchef.

Mama, they just do a general check up at 6 weeks; weight, length, head circumference and a number of other things that it says in the red book. I have had one both times but I think I will just get the GP to do it if I have another baby. I have to go in for vaccinations at 8 weeks anyway.
Is hippo house an indoor play centre? I haven't ever been to one as we don't usually have rain for this long but I will next time the weather is terrible.

nell, you poor thing! :hug: I hate being sleep deprived. Have you tried feeding Master K in bed when he wakes up while DD is asleep? You might find he goes straight back to sleep. I only occasionally manage to get my 2 boys to sleep at the same time during the day but it doesn't matter so much when you are getting nighttime sleep. Hope Master K settles down a bit for you so you can get some more sleep!

Still cruising here. Lots more washing to do though... never seems to end anymore.:wall:

Melanie, yep Hippo House is an indoor play centre. I only saw where it was the other day. There are 2 at Lawnton as well! I haven't been to any of them though. I did go to one at Lawnton a while back but it's since closed down... I mean hell there was 3 of them within a few km's of each other!!! CRAZY!

Amanda, you mustn't live too far from me. I saw the Hippo House a few weeks ago, didn't realise where it was. Is it good there?

Is chipmunks one of the Lawnton ones? I have heard that it is good there.

I did the washing... and then it rained again. And real rain too, not just sprinkles. I can't believe it didn't rain here for like 4 years and now we can't manage a whole day of sunshine. :lol:
I am trying to organise to get our roof cleaned before the house gets painted but not having much luck. The guy who was supposed to do it has told me 3 times that it will definitely be in the next few days, but it has now been over a month! :wall: I called some other places today but they are all going to get back to me. It really shouldn't be this hard.

Ozzie- I'm at Bribie Island. I have only ever been to Hippo house at Morayfield so don't really have anywhere else to compare it to. I find it good though, it wears ds out bigtime and its good to sit and relax. They have a section for i'd say 1 - 4 year olds, then another part for the older kids. My ds tends to hang around in the bigger one. They have 3 big slides and lots of balls and things to do. You can also order food and drinks or coffee there. It's $8.50 for 3-4 year olds.

Berrme- I'm hearing you on the rain. Hung out 4 loads yesterday. Completely forgot to bring it in and now its soaked again. :wall: How annoying about your roof.That guy better do a good job. Its so frustrating waiting for tradesmen to come out. The house we just bought mustn't of had a pest control for a while and there seems to be a lot of ****ies and these little tick like things and the earliest the man can come out is next Wednesday. Eww i hate ****roaches.

Anyone watching the footy tomorrow night? Go Queensland :dance:

Melanie, yeah Chipmunks is one of them at Lawnton. I've heard good things too, just haven't been yet. Oh I should've washed sheets on Monday it didn't rain but has been since!! OMG I would be telling the first not to bother now!! That's disgusting!

Amanda, sounds good, might have to check it out one day. I am a terrible "watcher" though of bigger kids hooning around near the smaller ones. Oskar has been knocked over for a six several times and been hit and pushed off things too. I hate that part cos I don't want him to think it's normal and I don't want him to be afraid either.

Oh and GO QUEENSLAND!!!!

Cass, maybe we should try chipmunks when we do get together.
I just got off the phone to a new roof guy, he is going to do it on Tuesday. If he doesn't show up I will cry. :crying:

Mama, I know it probably doesn't really make you feel any better, but ****roaches are actually very clean. Fleas, flies and mice are the nasty ones. :lol: I still hate them too. You would think that tradesman would be desperate for work in these tough economic times... maybe things aren't really that tough??
Enjoy the origin tonight Mama, go the maroons for sure! There will be pizza and footy here tonight. If I express some milk I could even have a beer... now that would really make it origin night! :lol:

Byron has fallen asleep on the couch again. He seems to think that he doesn't need a nap anymore but 4.00 seems to be his limit. It is only a problem because I have to wake him up after around an hour so he doesn't sleep all evening and then want to stay up all night. Oh the dirty looks I get when I wake him up. :p

Wow it's super quiet in here at the moment. Must mean everyone is busy enjoying their babies.

Master K has managed a few half smiles so far. My DD was grinning from ear to ear at this stage. I shouldn't compare though as I know each is unique and develops at their own rate. So hard not to though.

DS seems to have finally turned a corner and we are getting 3-4 hours between feeds at night and 2-3 hours during the day. Feeds only take on average 20-30 mins and he goes straight back to sleep during the night. It was taking up to an hour to settle him this time last week and I was going nutty.

He's usually awake for a good hour in the morning (happily) and about 2 in the late arvo (usually unhappily). I feel like things are improving though.

DD is interesting though and has just started becoming destructive and demanding during feeding times. She tears around the house, opening the fridge, cupboards, emptying drawers in her room and basically begging for attention. I've tried encouraging her help me do puzzles, read with her and any other positive activity she is interested in at the time. Play school DVD's work well but I don't like to put that on more than once or twice a day. Interestingly she shows some jealousy towards DS whenever I get the camera out.....even though we take plenty of photos of her too. Anyone else experiencing similar. BTW she is just divine towards DS most other times, wanting to hold him, kissing, hugging etc. Could be that stage as well....with the 2nd birthday coming in 2 weeks time. ??????

Hope that rain stops for all you Qld'rs soon. Sounds terrible.

My washing machine has been out of action for 1 week now. Hoping it's fixed soon as hoofing washing to my MIL's is not my idea of fun. There are at least 4 loads waiting now, and I'm running out of clothes for DS.

We're heading to the dr for needles next wk (at 6 wks due to the whooping cough issue atm) and then I have my postnatal appt in 2 wks time. sorry if it's tmi - but we dtd about a week ago and I swear things feel better than they did before DS arrived. Yay!!!

I just realised yesterday that I no longer have a newborn (how quickly they grow) when I saw a baby smaller than DS. Awwww. Trying to get as many pics as I can while he's still so small. Pity DD won't stay still with him for a beautiful photo. Might wait until DS is a little older to have a few professional photos done.

Hope everyone is enjoying their bubs. Sorry about my blabbering - must get out a little more and talk to some real people. :lol:

Nell, it is great to hear that things are improving for you. I completely understand your toddler troubles. Sometimes I really would just like to give him away, and then he is nice again and I feel bad for thinking it. My biggest issue is the kitchen atm, the gate doesn't keep him out anymore and he keeps helping himself to yoghurts and biscuits. :wall: And the volume of his tantrums. I am not bothered so much by the tantrum itself, it just hurts my ears. :lol:
The sun is out today so we have been able to go outside and run around. He is much better after outside time. :dance: We have been watching far too many videos lately!

I have done 4 loads of washing this morning and added them to the washing that is still on the line from Tuesday. I am really hoping it all dries or we will have nothing to wear... I am still rather short on clothes that fit. :pray:
I think having a broken machine would be just as bad. I remember the days of visiting laundromats... I really don't miss them!

OMG wet clothes... Oskar has had some clothes on the line (under cover) for 2 days and they're still wet!! I had to squish some other clothes on as well cos Andy needs some for work cos he's going away Sunday until Wed. Blah hope they dry!

Nell, sounds like things are settling down :) I think that's why they say the first 6 wks are the hardest, everyone getting used to each other and it all changes so quickly when they're that small, they feed so often at first it's just crazy! Oskar goes nuts sometimes, but usually after his bath. There's certainly truth to the "terrible twos" so don't feel alone! I've been just ignoring and picking my battles. Oskar gets too over affectionate with Elijah and headbutts or squashes him. *sighs* I try to explain to him being gentle but they just don't get it at 2 yrs old! Everything is full on or nothing..lol. A friend of mine told me that so long as they're still alive at the end of the day then it's a good day!

Hi everyone,

Sorry I have hardly posted in here!! Going pretty well here. Feeding is going well and little mr is putting in heaps of weight and going well.

Often during the day I'll settle Spencer to sleep and then put him down and he wakes up straight away and I'll spend the whole time before the next feed re-settling him and trying to put him down again, anyone else experiencing this or have any advice?

Jas, sometimes I think no matter what you do that they do this. There are times when Elijah is happy enough to go off to sleep himself but there are PLENTY of times when he just wants to sleep on me and if I put him down he's not playing the sleeping game until I pick him up again.

LOL Cass, I think I will make that my motto. We have lots of good days since Edward was born! :p I have definitely been picking my battles, I know DH wonders why I don't get madder about things in the evenings but I really would just be yelling at Byron all day sometimes and that isn't good for anyone. I am pretty sure that the more I yell the worse he gets anyway.

Jas!! Are those boys keeping you extra busy? It has been ages. :D
I generally only get 1 decent sleep out of Edward during the day, the rest of the time he sleeps briefly in my arms or in his bouncer. If he really won't settle when I put him down then I either strap him in the hug a bub or feed him lying down in bed with me and we both have a nap while Byron does.

And Nell... I didn't congratulate you on DTD. :clap: I am sure that your ob will very very happy with you. :lol: I am pleased that it is better than last time. I am finding it a bit painful, but I guess it will get better over time.

Most of my clothes are dry!! :dance: About another hour of sun for the rest to get there too. :crossfingers:

Well, that makes it easier to deal with knowing I'm not the only one!! I just can' remember with Noah if he did that and I suppose knowing it is normal behaviour that will grow out of rather than being a problem we need to try to do something about iykwim

Well you know how I said PIL wentback to nz well last monday fil came back cause he got some work over here so he's staying with us and the comp is in ths spare room wherre he is s

Jas, difference with the last ones is we probably didn't notice it in the same way. More than likely saw it as an opportunity to get a nap!

Bummer about comp. You'll have to move it lol.

Lol You're probably right Ozzie! Its just fnny that they will sleep so well by themselves at night (which I'm very haapy about!) but not during the day..at least I know he CAN sleep by himself and soon or later he will choose to stay asleep for longer during the day without me holding him

morning all

sorry it's been awhile. just busy busy busy :rolleyes:

lachlan is going well, he's such a heffalump - i weighed him on thurs and he's 5.1kg! I'm so surprised.... he was 3.42kg when born. the CYH midwife said nothing so i guess it's normal. He's SUPER long now - not sure of how long but i'm struggling to swaddle him in his blankies anymore. so bought him a proper swaddling thing and he HATES IT. we call him houdini hands cos no matter how tight you wrap him he'll get his hands out. But he can't in this thing so he screams til he finally wears out.

Well last week he was sleeping 4 hours between feeds at night - last night was 2.5 hours max. only drinking 1/2 a bottle then falling asleep - refusing anymore and at one stage woke up one hour later screaming for more - so i'm T.I.R.E.D.

Have all but given up BF - he just takes an hour to feed, and an hour later he's hungry again. i've been expressing as well to increase supply but not much is happening to be honest. i'm very upset about it but as my mum said he's had 6 weeks and i've given it my all. I've seen a LC twice but it's just not working! :( i want to cry!

TMI ALERT! on a better note - we've dtd a couple of times. is getting easier, but slightly painful - think near stitch area?

nell nell - do they demand more food during growth spurts? maybe that's what's happening atm? I hear you on the decent convo front. i've been going out a lot visiting (to escape cabin fever) and i'm sure people think i'm 'simple-minded' cos halfway through a convo i just stop and have a blank look on my face. LMFAO. :clap: to DTD.

berrme & jas - OMG to babies sleeping through the night - how do you get them to do that? a gfs baby does that and .... i just wonder are you drugging them (joking) ... cos there is NO WAY lachlan would sleep through night. i get weirded out when he goes 4 hours! i want a sleepy baby!(although he sleeping in Hug a bub cos he cranky cranks this morn and i need some 'me time).

Cass and Melanie - I hear you both on choosing your battles with toddlers. Sometimes I hear myself.......negative this, negative that, no....not now....please don't......and I really have to make an effort to think positively, so I can talk positively to DD. Sh'e not being naughty, just wanting my attention (like she used to have before her brother started taking up all my time!). Sleeping makes a huge difference to EVERYTHING, and that's what seems to make the first couple of months so hard. Relationships really suffer when people are sleep deprived.

I'm looking after both kids on my own for 3 days and nights as DH has gone away. Tonight went well (well crazy hour went well anyway) so lets hope I can keep it together until DH arrives home on Friday. :pray:

I've been doing some serious thinking about my fascination of pregnancy, birth and bubs and been looking into midwifery. I would LOVE, more than anything else to study a Bachelor of Midwifery and work in the field...........BUT, reality is that 3 years of study (at approx $14000) and 3 years without working would be detrimental to my family financially. And even if I did complete the course, I'd be entering the workforce on a wage approx $30,000 per annum less than I earn currently as a teacher. So I've been looking into getting into the business without becoming a nurse and the only thing I can come up with so far is a doula. Jas, I noticed that you are a doula. How do you find it? Where did you do your course? How do you find it works with your family life?

Sorry about the waffle but I feel somehow I've missed my calling and that I'm not going to be able to fulfill this dream. I know money isn't everything but darn it would make things a lot easier sometimes.

mustangsachy - 1. so sorry to hear about the b/f. If this is the end you can congratulate yourself on giving Lachlan the best start. Sounds like he's thriving.
2. Block your ears (or close your eyes) when reading about babies sleeping through the night. Not taking away from Melanie and Jas (lucky buggers) but what you are experiencing is normal. Master K is lucky to get 4 hours between feeds and most of the time he feeds at 7pm, 11pm, 2am, 4am, 6am. So far his longest stint between feeds was 6 hours when he was 8 days old....and I spoiled it by waking him as my boobs were about to burst. I remember my DD did two 6 hour blocks at 6 weeks so I'm hoping that DS will be doing the same sometime this week (YEAH RIGHT)

I really should be in bed - sleeping, so thats where I'm headed while the going is good. Fingers crossed for a good night for everyone.

lordy lordy lordy! i'm sooooo T.I.R.E.D.

Lachlan didn't sleep v well the night before and not at all y-day + not feeding well. i had no idea what was going on, but same was happening last night so i rang CYH who told me to ring the locum - i rang at midnight and they here 1.30am.... well lachlan DEF has colic. BAD colic. dosed him on brauer and managed to get 5.5 hours broken sleep all up. :( so blody tired though. i look like i've been out clubbing all night.

anyone elses baby experiencing this. it's frustrating for us but i imagine he's in lots of pain? any tips?

btr go - he stirring :wall:

Morning everyone,

It is soooo cold up here at the moment and I'm not sure if I'm under or over dressing Oliver. At night Ive been having him in a short sleeve body suit with a long sleeve long leg onesie, then wrapped in a blanket with about 2 blankets halved again over that. I feel him all night and he's not hot or anything but i just think it seems a lot and you would think it would be heavy. Does anyone use those sleeping bag things?
Both my boys are sick at the moment. Samuel has a viral infection, coughing and snotting everywhere and poor Oliver has picked it up. His nose isn't too bad, he can still feed and suck a dummy but he is snorting and coughing.
I feel so sorry for you guys whose babies aren't sleeping well. It's so hard when there like that. My first son was a horrible sleeper and that's one of the things i dreaded at the end of my pregnancy. Ive been blessed with my baby. He sleeps from 9.30pm to 5am & sometimes he'll have a feed around 3. Do you think i should be waking him for a feed? Or just leave him to sleep through. It just seems so early for him to be sleeping through because my last son still doesn't and he's nearly 4!
Oliver wasn't sleeping well during the day though. Every time I'd put him down in our room he'd wake up 10mins later and id have to hold him all day. Now Ive been putting him on a pillow in the lounge room and his fine. Will sleep well if he is near the noise. We tend to struggle all afternoon with sleep and wind. Oh he gets a lot of wind. Ive been giving him the colic relief and infants friend so that helps. But he just cries and cries for a good hour or two. Not screaming just like a dull cry. I burp him all day so i dunno. Wind is so annoying isn't it. I'm just so tired from having to look after both the kids all day. It is so hard having the two i reckon. Sam is just so demanding.
I think I'm the only one in here who hasn't dtd yet. :redface: I actually still have the end of the bleeding.. Does anyone else have this or is this something i should be concerned about?

hang in there ms and m22. sorry about the one handed typing!

really hoping you can get things worked out mustangsachy. I dont have any advice about colic but it sounds like you are on the ball with seeking support.

m22 - i thought master k had wind about 2 weeks ago. he still burps heaps and spews too but i think its particularly bothering him now. i hear you on being tired looking after 2 kids. I didnt stop bleeding until 6 weeks with my first, and was told this was normal.